Chapter 28
Eel.
A fish known for its rich, savory taste.
When feeling physically weakened, there’s nothing more comforting than having some. That’s why I liked eel. Until recently, that is.
“Gaga, it’s time to eat.”
“Thanks. Did you eat?”
“I already had my meal.”
The good fish Yeon-hee mentioned—
It turned out to be eel.
Eel soup, simmered gently with a variety of vegetables.
It was a common recipe in Zhongyuan.
“Gaga, ah~”
Yeon-hee scooped up a piece of meat with a spoon and held it out to me. In the past, she would have seemed a bit shy doing this, but now, she fed me as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Ah, ah~”
“How is it? Does it taste alright?”
“Yeah, of course. It really brought my appetite back.”
“Really? How does it compare to the Moyong Family’s cooking?”
A sudden attack.
It was crucial not to show my surprise.
“Much better! You were right, Yeon-hee. Eating is a habit, right? The food at the Moyong Family was so bland that I often skipped meals.”
“Isn’t that so? If you need more, I can bring some, so make sure you eat plenty.”
Although I managed to get through that smoothly, it seemed Yeon-hee still hadn’t forgotten about Moyong Hye’s scented sachet. This was a sort of ideological test.
“You’re eating so well. How did you endure being this hungry?”
“I wanted to chat with you for a little longer since it’s been a while. I could eat later.”
“Gaga…”
I answered desperately, hoping to lift Yeon-hee’s mood. She put her hands near her mouth as if my words had moved her. The room, which had felt a bit cold earlier, seemed to warm up a little.
“You seem to enjoy eel?”
“Oh, of course. I’ve always liked it. I just can’t get enough of it.”
“I see…”
It was a bit of an exaggerated answer meant to keep the brighter mood going.
I had no idea this would be the beginning of a disaster.
***
Grilled eel.
Fried eel.
Eel rice bowl.
Eel sashimi.
Eel porridge.
Steamed eel.
Braised eel.
What’s all this, you ask?
These were the dishes I’ve been eating for the past week.
A diet dominated by eel, differing only in preparation. All of these dishes were chosen by Yeon-hee, who stayed close to me during meals.
Eel, more eel, and even more eel.
They were all expertly prepared, so they tasted good, but eating the same food over and over again was exhausting.
And there was a certain intent behind this diet choice.
‘This can only be seen as intentional.’
At first, I didn’t think much of it. I simply thought Yeon-hee was being considerate since I said I liked eel. That was naive of me. But every day, it was more eel dishes. And the side dishes that came with them—
Garlic. Chives. Onions. Oysters.
And for dessert, raspberry tea.
There was one common theme among all these foods.
‘They’re all known for boosting… virility!’
Eel is considered a nourishing food.
It’s packed with nutrients, good for the skin, blood circulation, and even the stomach.
But the most well-known benefit of eel?
Stamina!
‘Well, the effect is definitely noticeable.’
I’ve always had plenty of energy(?) to begin with. As a martial artist, it’s a given to have a healthy body. But eating eel every day… It felt like I’d become a volcano, ready to erupt at any moment.
‘It’s like I’m a teenager again.’
There was a time like that.
When just the sight of a skirt would make my heart and body race.
This was exactly like that.
“Gaga, are you alright?”
“I was just thinking for a moment.”
It was difficult. Yeon-hee had always been beautiful, but lately, her looks seemed to reach a dangerous level. I found myself admiring her figure without realizing it, and whenever she got close, I could feel my heart racing in real-time.
It came with certain… natural reactions.
‘I must not give in!’
Moyong Hye’s presence must have deeply affected Yeon-hee.
To use such underhanded tactics!
I had to endure a constant struggle of self-control.
“Gaga, hold me…”
Yeon-hee’s displays of affection had increased recently.
Whenever she had a moment, she would ask me to hold her.
Embracing Yeon-hee, I could smell the delicate fragrance that tickled my nose.
“Is there something bothering you?”
“No. Not at all. Nothing like that.”
I inevitably ended up in an awkward posture.
It was torture.
Yeon-hee’s constant displays of affection were, to me, a form of torture.
“Yeon-hee, by the way, why have we been eating so much eel lately?”
“Oh, that. Since you said you liked it, I asked my eldest brother to bring in some eel.”
“Yeah. And then?”
“It turns out the merchants misunderstood the quantity. Something went wrong in the middle, and they ended up delivering ten times more than I originally requested! So, we won’t run out of eel anytime soon!”
What kind of mistake leads to such an order?
And if there was a communication problem, shouldn’t they have refused to buy it? Why did they purchase everything?
Why are they being so unnecessarily kind? The Namgung Family has enough influence to demand better service. Why did they…?
This couldn’t continue.
No matter how much superhuman patience I had, there was a limit to what a person could endure. Who knew being healthy could be so challenging?
‘I have to find a way to deal with all this eel.’
The eel was the problem.
I had to deal with all the eels piling up at the Namgung Estate.
Not only was it a problem for the reasons I mentioned earlier, but eating the same ingredient every day wasn’t easy. I wasn’t Namgung Hyeo, after all.
‘Namgung Hyeo?’
His name flashed through my mind.
Yes, there was Namgung Hyeo.
A man who never got tired of eating chicken breast every day.
He had reached a level where he not only tolerated it but enjoyed it… the monster I had created.
I already felt indebted to Namgung Hyeo.
To that man who might be brainwashing himself because of me.
How about offering him a little break from his routine, a special treat?
***
“It’s been a while, brother-in-law.”
“How have you been?”
“I’m the same as always. But you’ve been a little cold, haven’t you? Not even a single letter.”
“I apologize. I’ve been busy handling tasks assigned by the Patriarch…”
“Ah, no need to apologize. It’s good to see you settling into the family. You seem to be adjusting well.”
Namgung Hyeo looked much more muscular than before, a body that completely rejected the existence of fat.
“By the way, what brings you here today?”
“I’ve been treated to many meals by you before, so I thought it was my turn to host for once.”
“Oh! I’m looking forward to it. A chicken breast dish prepared by you!”
No, Namgung Hyeo.
I’m sorry, but today there’s no chicken breast dish for you.
Today, I’ll free you from the restraint I placed on you!
“What I’m serving today isn’t a chicken breast dish.”
“Brother-in-law? What do you mean?”
A disappointed expression crossed Namgung Hyeo’s face.
This is driving me crazy.
The sight of him looking sad over not having chicken breast seemed bizarre.
“In fact, there’s something I need to confess to you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Brother-in-law, I don’t like chicken breast.”
Dun-dun!
It felt like a dramatic sound effect echoed in the air.
Namgung Hyeo looked at me with disbelief.
“What did you just say…?”
“Chicken breast is too dry, and the smell is off-putting. I dislike it.”
“How could you…!”
Namgung Hyeo’s reaction was like someone whose faith had been shattered.
His eyes were burning with a sense of betrayal.
“That can’t be true…”
“It’s the absolute truth.”
“No!”
Namgung Hyeo staggered as if his strength had left him, looking like he might collapse to the floor.
“I recommended a chicken breast-only diet to you as a sort of extreme measure.”
“…”
“Forgive me, but back then, you weren’t exactly the picture of health. If things had continued, it wouldn’t have ended well.”
He remained silent.
“So I had to make a tough choice, tears in my eyes. Chicken breast! Good for health, but terribly tasteless chicken breast!”
“Chicken breast is delicious!”
“No, it’s not. It was meant to curb your appetite. Food should just be a means to build muscle, not something to be enjoyed. I wanted to make you dread eating itself!”
I continued, my voice rising.
“But you, brother-in-law, had far more willpower than I expected. I never imagined you’d come to enjoy chicken breast. It’s probably thanks to your wife’s loving preparation.”
“…”
“You even fooled yourself into thinking that way. Do you know how guilty I felt whenever you said that even the gamey smell was a sign of muscle growth?”
“Enough!”
He’s lost it completely.
Who knew he’d be so stubborn?
“Now, it’s time to set things right. Look at this.”
“!”
At my signal, a servant brought out the food.
A plate piled high with grilled eel.
It was a special preparation I’d arranged.
“Take in the rich aroma, brother-in-law.”
I waved my hand over the plate, letting the scent of the bamboo-smoked eel waft towards Namgung Hyeo.
“Ugh, ugh.”
“How is it? The deep scent of grilled eel infused with bamboo.”
Namgung Hyeo’s expression looked like I’d struck a vital point. I slid the plate closer to him.
Skewered, perfectly grilled eel, with a glaze of soy sauce and a hint of honey. The edges were intentionally seared, and the oil glistened on its surface.
“Imagine it. The crisp texture, the tender flesh, the oil seeping through each bite. The charred surface carries the scent of the bamboo.”
“I don’t want to hear it!”
“Will you still turn your nose up at the sweet aftertaste?”
Though he kept denying it, Namgung Hyeo’s eyes followed the eel.
See, your body’s being honest.
Remember, Namgung Hyeo, the days when you enjoyed good food.
“I wouldn’t offer just any dish to you, brother-in-law. Eel is almost as good as chicken breast for building muscle.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes, I guarantee it.”
He’s almost convinced.
Now for the final blow.
I picked up a piece of grilled eel and took a big bite.
As I chewed, the crisp sound filled the quiet room.
“Mmm! This is it!”
“…”
“It tastes amazing. Come on, brother-in-law, just take a bite.”
I smiled brightly.
Namgung Hyeo hesitated.
To him, I must have seemed like a heretic tempting him to abandon his faith.
“Since you went through the trouble, I’ll try just a bite.”
“You won’t regret it.”
“There’s no way I’ll like it!”
Namgung Hyeo reluctantly brought the eel to his mouth.
“!”
The reaction was immediate from the first bite.
As I saw his eyes light up, I knew.
The once unyielding Namgung Hyeo had been conquered in an instant.
“Well, it’s… edible.”
“Have some more.”
“I’m only doing this because of your thoughtfulness! My mind is made up!”
Tak tak tak.
Like he had grown extra hands, Namgung Hyeo devoured the eel skewers with incredible speed.
And thus, I led him down the path of culinary indulgence.
—
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